Michael Young finished the first half of 2012 hitting an uncharacteristically low .270

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Michael Young begins the second half of the 2012 season with a .270 average and a .303 on-base percentage--a full 32 points down from his career average and 45 points down from his career OBP. But the always-optimistic Ron Washington is expecting a big second half from the Rangers’ elder statesman.

“You don't do what Michael Young has done for as many years as he has done it, and simply because he's struggling, all of a sudden you throw in the towel,” Washington said, per the Dallas Morning News. “He deserves the right to continue to go out there. He works at his game. What I saw the last game before the break is nothing that I haven't seen before. It was just a matter of time.”

Here, Washington is referring to Young’s performance against the Twins last Sunday night, when he went 4-for-6 with a double and two RBIs. With a few days of R&R under his belt after the break, Washington has a hunch that Young, and the rest of the Rangers for that matter, will come ready to play.

“We get this four-day break, which I thought the whole team needed,” he said. “I really, really feel when we come out Friday in Seattle, we're going to come out ready to play baseball. Michael Young will be ready to play baseball. I expect that he will come out and put on a show in the second half.”